Alstom unveils fuel cell train

The company displayed its diesel power alternative in Berlin

Train manufacturer Alstom Transport has launched its zero-emission train at the railway trade fair Innotrans.

The Coradia iLint is a CO2-emission-free regional train and offers an alternative to diesel power. It is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, its emissions being steam and condensed water and some noise. It will be able to run between 600-800km on a tankful of hydrogen, carry 300 passengers and run at 140km/h. The train contains a flexible energy storage system that uses Lithium-ion batteries.

Despite electrification projects in several countries, a significant part of Europe’s rail network may remain non-electrified in the long term. Many countries still have a high circulation of diesel trains– more than 4,000 cars in Germany, for instance.

To make the deployment of the Coradia iLint simple for operators, Alstom is responsible for the train and maintenance, as well as the hydrogen refueling infrastructure.

This launch follows agreements signed in 2014 with the governments of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg, and the public transportation authorities of Hesse for the use of emission-free trains equipped with a fuel cell drive.

Henri Poupart-Lafarge, chief executive of Alstom, said: “This shows our ability to work in close collaboration with our customers and develop a train in only two years.”

Coradia iLint is based on the service-proven diesel train Coradia Lint 54. Alstom’s Coradia range has sold over 2,400 trains globally. It will be manufactured in Salzgitter, Germany, Alstom’s largest site. The first train is expected to be in operation by 2018 in Germany.